NEWARK, Del. – Slow starts in each half did not hinder the No. 16 Towson University men's lacrosse team as the Tigers best long-time rival University of Delaware 10-6 on Saturday night at Delaware Stadium.
Senior midfielder
Brian Bolewicki had a career outing for Towson (7-3, 3-0 CAA), potting two goals along with two assists. A balanced offensive effort and stout defense helped Towson clench a berth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament for a sixth-straight season, all under the guidance of head coach
Shawn Nadelen.
How it Happened
- Riding the high of celebrations surrounding 39-year veteran Delaware head coach Bob Shillinglaw, who retires at the end the season, the Blue Hens struck early as Will Hirschmann scored just over two minutes into the game.
- The Tigers got one back to deadlock the first quarter at 1-1 as Bolewick hammered a shot on a Matt Wylly assist.
- Delaware (7-6, 0-3 CAA) regained a one-goal lead at 14:29 as Charlie Kitchen logged his 24th of the year on a Steve DeLargy assist.
- Once again, Towson tied things up just over a minute later on a Mike Lynch step-down shot, with fellow senior Tyler Young on the backend.
- The Hens took their third lead of the game at 8:15 behind a marker from Andrew Romagnoli unassisted.
- Towson surged into the break with three-staight goals as Tyler Konen, Joe Seider and Lynch all scored in the final half of the second quarter. Bolewicki had the helper on Konen's tally as Towson took a 5-3 lead at the half.
- Delaware scored twice in the third quarter to tie the game for a fourth time, 5-5, as Kitchen scored on the extra-man at 11:17 on a Hirschmann assist, followed by a Joe Eisele goal at 6:32. The Tigers were held scoreless in the third frame.
- The Tiger offense came alive in the final quarter, out-scoring the Blue Hens 5-1. All five goals were in succession. Jon Mazza drilled his 12th of the season followed by a second Bolewicki goal on a Ryan Drenner assist. Seider, Young and Drenner all scored within three minutes of each other for the final Tiger tallies of the night.
- Delaware bookended the game with an Eisle shot at 2:04 of the fourth quarter.
Behind the Numbers
- Towson out-shot the Blue Hens 35-24 on Saturday night, including 13 in the final frame. The Tigers put over half of their attempts on goal in the final 15 minutes.
- Drenner's two points added to his CAA-leading point streak, which now stands at 23 consecutive games. He has 73 points in that streak on 44 goals and 29 assists.
- Matt Hoy made his second career start between the pipes for Towson, turning aside six Hen shots. Towson's defense limited the Hens to six goals, tying the second-fewest goals Delaware has scored this season.
- Hoy's counterpart, Matt Deluca, who stands at 6-6, made a dozen saves in the loss.
- After five turnovers in the first half, Towson controlled the ball better in the second half with just four total turnovers, including one in a crucial fourth quarter. Delaware had 11 miscues, going 11-of -18 in clears. Towson was a perfect 12-for-12 in the clearing game.
- At the X, what was expected to be a close battle shifted the way of the Tigers as sophomore specialist Alex Woodall won 12 of his 19 draws, going five-for-seven in the fourth. Woodall had four of Towson's 28 ground balls, limiting the Hens to just 21 grounders.
- The Tigers won their 40th game all-time against Delaware, the second-most in program history over a single foe (Drexel – 42). Towson will finish 31-12 all-time against 39-year veteran head coach Bob Shillinglaw.
- Towson has won three straight games over Delaware in the First State, dating back to a 7-6 overtime win on March 22, 2013. Tiger head coach Shawn Nadelen is 3-0 all-time at Delaware Stadium.
- The Tigers won their 58th CAA game, the most all-time in league history. No. 2 Hofstra, which dropped a 13-12 game Saturday night against Drexel, is second with 56.
Up Next
- Towson rounds out its two-game CAA road swing with another trip up Interstate 95 next weekend at Fairfield.
- The Tigers square off with the Stags at Rafferty Stadium for a 3 p.m. start in Connecticut.
- Saturday's game at Fairfield will be carried on ESPN3, while a free audio stream will be available on the Towson Sports Network. Spiro Morekas and Hunter Lochte will have the call for TSN.
- TowsonTigers.com –